Job Description

Umbra builds next-generation space systems that observe the Earth in unprecedented fidelity. 

Our mission: Deliver global omniscience. 

To stay ahead of climate change, geopolitical risk, and other major crises and issues, we need a global understanding of what is changing, where, and how fast. Umbra provides easy access to the highest quality commercial satellite data available, which is an indispensable tool for the growing number of organizations monitoring the Earth. We empower our customers to create solutions that inform, inspire, and address our planet’s most pressing needs. We’re helping to create a brand new industry that has never meaningfully existed before.

We are looking for a dynamic and results-driven Director, Engineering to join our team. As a key member of Umbra’s newly established Mission Solutions business group, you will report directly to the Vice President and General Manager, Mission Solutions. In this role, you will lead the development of a world-class engineering organization, focused on developing enduring space and ground product lines as well as custom space mission and ground systems for our US and Global customers. Your focus will be on hiring, training, equipping, deploying and managing the entirety of Mission Solutions engineering organization. Additionally, you will engage directly in internal and customer-funded engineering activities, providing technical leadership, and often technical contribution; you will also be responsible for designing, building, and enforcing processes and tools which promote engineering excellence within Mission Solutions and throughout Umbra.

Our aim is to hire this position in to work in Umbra's Arlington, VA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the standard of excellence for space and ground engineering within Mission Solutions.
• Manage all Mission Solutions engineering staff hiring and performance to including management of the payroll and indirect budget, candidate evaluation, performance assurance management, and other duties required to build and maintain a world class engineering organization.
• Collaborate with Mission Solutions General Manager, Operations Manager and Operating Unit leads to build staffing processes and plans ensuring engineering resources are assigned to pursuits, captures and programs based on Business Group priorities.
• Lead working groups focused on various strategic technical focus areas.
• Define, document and demonstrate engineering excellence.
• Support other managers at Umbra in upholding the highest standard for performance and behavior.
• Serve as an engineering lead as required when qualified staff is otherwise assigned or not yet hired.
• Coordinate with Remote Sensing and Space Systems engineering organizations to promote free flow of best-practices, tools, Intellectual Property and anything else that will ensure all engineering orgs can leverage the best that Umbra has to offer for all customers.
• Serve as a senior leader within Mission Solutions, supporting executive decision making related to Umbra internal and external priorities.
• Utilize agile practices to support sprint planning, track progress and manage and report individual performance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years professional experience in the aerospace and defense industry, with a focus on space mission system development.
• Experience with the design, integration, verification and operation of space and ground systems.
• Bachelors Degree in Engineering.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time, both CONUS and OCONUS.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• A continuous learner and self-starter who embraces uncertainty, takes calculated risks, and learns from challenges.
• Proactive and solution-oriented, consistently taking initiative to address important issues.
• High emotional intelligence, with the ability to engage and empathize with staff, colleagues, cross-functional teams, and customers and adapt to different cultures.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment with a nationally distributed team.
• Experience with multiple relevant U.S. Government or partner-nation space agencies and acquisition offices.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Full-lifecycle engineering experience to ranging from concept development to on-orbit operations.
• Deep expertise in at least one aerospace engineering discipline (e.g. mechanical, electrical, or GN&C engineering).

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)
• Vol Life, Critical Illness, Accidental, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance (employee funded)
• 401k with 3% non-elective company contribution
• Stock Options
• Free parking
• Free lunch in office daily

Umbra is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Employment Eligibility Verification

In compliance with federal laws, all hired persons will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) upon hire.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position may include access to technology and/or data that is subject to U.S. export controls pursuant to ITAR and EAR. To comply with federal export controls, all persons hired must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), or must otherwise be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable. 

Pay Transparency
This job posting may cover multiple career levels. To ensure greater transparency, we provide base salary ranges for all roles, regardless of location. Our standard pay ranges are based on the role’s function and level, benchmarked against similar growth-stage companies. Compensation may vary based on geographical location, as certain regions may have different cost-of-living factors. The final offer will also be influenced by the candidate's skills, responsibilities, and relevant experience.

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range for this role is $230,000 - $265,000.

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